What Karl Bushby Can Teach Us About Learning English

Today saw our wonderful student Andres from Chile finish his last class before heading off for further adventures in the UK. His thirst for venturing into the unknown reminded me of someone similar from the UK, someone most people won’t have heard of until perhaps next year. Karl Bushby set out in 1998 to walk around the world. Yes - walk! From the tip of South America back to his home in Hull, England, entirely on foot. Over 36,000 miles. No shortcuts, no flights, no excuses.

It’s called The Goliath Expedition, and it’s one of the most ambitious human journeys ever attempted. Twenty-five years later, Karl is still walking. Still pushing boundaries. Still refusing to quit.

Sound familiar?

Learning English might not involve crossing frozen rivers in Siberia or dodging sandstorms in the Atacama Desert, but make no mistake - it’s a journey. A long one. A hard one. One where motivation fades, maps change, and progress feels slow.

But here’s the truth: success doesn’t come from being fast. It comes from not stopping.

Karl’s story is a reminder that:

• You don’t need to be the best - just consistent.
• You won’t always know the way - just keep moving forward.
• You may not feel ready - do it anyway.

At ABC, we meet students every day who are walking their own version of the Goliath Expedition. They’re navigating new tenses, unfamiliar sounds, tricky idioms. They’re trying to hold conversations when their brains are screaming, “I don’t have the words!”

But then - like Karl crossing the Bering Strait in -50°C - they keep going.

Maybe you're at a grammar plateau. Maybe you're scared to speak. Maybe you're wondering if English is even worth it.

It is.

And like any epic adventure, it’s worth more because it’s hard.

Bushby didn’t walk 36,000 miles in a day. He did it step by step, mile by mile, day after day. You learn English the same way: word by word, class by class, conversation by conversation.

So, whether you’re just starting out or halfway through your journey, remember Karl.

Keep going.

Don’t turn back.

There’s a homecoming waiting for you - not to Hull, maybe - but to fluency. Confidence. Connection.

And if you’re reading this Andres, don’t forget to send us a postcard!

Every journey begins with one step. Every conversation begins with one word. Keep walking. Keep speaking. We’re right beside you.

Daniel Studholme